quinta-feira, 27 de abril de 2017
Spurs’ League Title Hopes Kept Alive Thanks To Eriksen
0 Crystal Palace 1 Tottenham
by Maamun Hajmahmoud at Selhurst Park
JUST as their chances of winning the Premier League looked to have slipped away, Christian Eriksen’s crucial strike provided Tottenham with a vital lifeline to overcome a resilient Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Wednesday night.
After Palace recorded successive away victories against Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge and Anfield respectively, not to mention a recent home-drubbing of Arsenal, there was an air of optimism in south London as fans were hopeful their side could muster a result which would help solidify their Premier League status.
This week’s north London opponents matched the hosts in terms of their defensive stability as they dealt with Christian Benteke well.
Despite bright passages of play from in-form duo Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend, Spurs coped, in turn reducing the quality and quantity of service to Palace’s top-scorer.
However, merely coping with the attacking trio of Palace was never going to be enough and in the second half a greater impetus was required.
Premier League right back of the year Kyle Walker produced a wonderful cross which Dele Alli strangely turned wide from close-range.
As it began to look like one of those nights for the visitors, the breakthrough came.
Eriksen’s strike from 30 yards dipped into Wayne Hennessey’s right-hand corner, leaving the Welshman with no chance, subsequently sending the Spurs fans into hysteria.
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino was pleased with his side’s second-half display, particularly following Saturday’s FA Cup loss to Chelsea.
“I think it was important for us, in a very tough game, against a team in very good form,” he said.
“They showed great character and personality after a very disappointing weekend, I’m very pleased with my players for their effort.”
Man City vs Man United: Player Ratings
Marouane Fellaini saw red for headbutting Sergio Aguero as Manchester City retained a slim advantage in their top-four battle with Manchester United following a frantic goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium.
Fellaini’s moment of madness came six minutes from time in a tense stalemate that leaves City a point in front of their neighbours and in charge of the Champions League race.
Fellaini had been booked moments before for a trip on the City striker and was in wide-eyed and animated mood as he eventually left the pitch, a stunning denouement to a match the home side had dominated without finding the net.
MANCHESTER CITY
GK – CLAUDIO BRAVO – 5/10
Had very little to do most of the game, although he nearly gifted United a goal in the first half when flapping at a ball into the box. Went off injured after an awkward landing when collecting a corner kick late in the second half.
RB – PABLO ZABALETA – 5/10
Restored to the starting lineup, Zabaleta struggled early on with Anthony Martial’s pace and trickery, but looked comfortable after that as United went into their shell. However, didn’t attack with the spirit and zest Pep Guardiola expects of his full-backs.
CB – VINCENT KOMPANY – 6/10
It goes without saying that the shaky City defence looks infinitely more solid when the club captain is fit. Kompany gave young Marcus Rashford an education in the physicality of the Premier League, but was rarely called upon to do more.
CB – NICOLAS OTAMENDI – 6/10
Followed Kompany’s lead in marshalling Rashford, although was lucky to escape a yellow card for some of his tackles on the youngster. The shakiness he showcases alongside John Stones disappears when Kompany is alongside him.
LB – ALEKSANDER KOLAROV – 5/10
Like Zabaleta on the other side, Kolarov was steady in defense but didn’t offer enough in attack apart from a couple of wayward shots from range.
MF – YAYA TOURE – 7/10
Apart from a spell in the first half, he was comfortable for most of the game without being a dominating force. He saw a lot of the ball and was heavily involved in City’s build-up play but couldn’t make it count.
MF – FERNANDINHO – 6/10
Was fortunate to escape a yellow card for a first-half challenge on Ander Herrera. Covered a lot of ground but did little on the ball.
RW – RAHEEM STERLING – 7/10
Plenty of pace mixed in with a little trickery and he had United defenders back-tracking regularly. He wasn’t able to produce an end product but certainly created inroads. Had a few shots on target without really testing De Gea.
CAM – KEVIN DE BRUYNE – 8/10
Bore the play-making responsibility in David Silva’s absence and created plenty of chances, taking three shots at goal himself. Needed to be a little more clever to unlock United’s defence.
LW – LEROY SANE – 6/10
Went on a few exciting runs but wasn’t able to threaten the United defence enough.
ST – SERGIO AGUERO – 6/10
Was a constant threat, firing eight times at De Gea’s goal but to no avail. Missed City’s best chance of the first half, unmarked from close range, but could only strike the post. He began to snatch at chances and missed another point-blank chance late in the game.
SUBS:
WILLY CABALLERO – N/A
Had nothing to do after coming on for Claudio Bravo. His biggest moment of stress was deciding whether or not to go up for a last-minute corner.
JESUS NAVAS – 5/10
Was perhaps a surprise choice as City’s first man off the bench. With United packing the box in defence, the Spaniard struggled to find the cross to threaten the visiting defenders especially since he was up against Matteo Darmian who appeared to be struggling.
GABRIEL JESUS – N/A
Had very little time to come up with a miracle, but nearly pulled it off nonetheless. His would-be game-winning goal was rightly chalked off for offside.
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MANCHESTER UNITED
GK – DAVID DE GEA – 6/10
Commanded his box with usual aplomb, and stopped every shot that came his way. Was never called on to be spectacular though.
RB – ANTONIO VALENCIA – 6/10
Showcased his usual form at right-back, rendering Leroy Sane largely anonymous. Offered little going forward, but that was partially down to Jose Mourinho’s defensive game plan.
CB – ERIC BAILLY – 8/10
Was imperious, commanding United’s back-line and was the best player on the pitch. For all the talk of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba, Bailly has shown why there are United fans who think he was the club’s best signing last summer.
CB – DALEY BLIND – 6/10
Fans wondering how Blind would cope with the pace of City’s front four needn’t have worried. The Dutchman was sloppy on occasion but his sense of positioning ensured he was rarely beaten by Aguero, Sterling, and company.
LB – MATTEO DARMIAN – 6/10
What Valencia did with Sane on the opposite flank, Darmian did with Sterling, albeit to a lesser extent. Was running on fumes towards the end but was still committed to the cause.
MF – MAROUANE FELLAINI – 3/10
Should never have put himself in the position to be red-carded and can have no complaints. Offered little to the game even before those 19 seconds of madness.
MF – MICHAEL CARRICK – 6/10
Was the calm head needed in a potentially fiery game. Could rarely affect the game from an attacking sense but marshalled Kevin de Bruyne and negated the Belgian’s impact.
MF – ANDER HERRERA – 6/10
Was his usual busy, feisty self in midfield, snuffing out City attacks although unable to conjure any for United. Fluffed his lines when presented with the standout chance of the first half, heading wide from point-blank range.
RW – HENRIKH MKHITARYAN – 5/10
Lasted the whole game, unlike the first Manchester derby of the season when he was infamously hooked at half-time (and then withdrawn from the team for two months). However, he couldn’t produce the attacking impact that Mourinho expects of him and lost the ball on a few occasions as well.
ST – MARCUS RASHFORD – 6/10
A learning curve for the young star striker. Kompany and Otamendi gave him grudging respect with the level of physical play they needed to keep him quiet. To his credit, he was a willing runner throughout and had a few good moments in the first half.
LW – ANTHONY MARTIAL – 5/10
Martial finally gave Mourinho the defensive work rate the manager has been asking of him all along, tracking back and ensuring Sterling couldn’t have an impact. He went on a few fine runs forward as well in the opening 45 minutes, skinning Kompany on one occasion and Zabaleta on a couple.
SUBS:
JESSE LINGARD – N/A
Many would have expected him to start, given his superior defensive work rate compared to Anthony Martial. With United under the cosh, he was unable to have an impact on the game after coming on.
TIMOTHY FOSU-MENSAH – N/A
Made only his third appearance in the Premier League, coming on immediately after Fellaini’s sending off.
ASHLEY YOUNG – N/A
Came on as a late substitute for Marcus Rashford, to help out in defence as Matteo Darmian began to tire.
Manchester United scraped over the line, that's a given. But what did we learned from the #ManchesterDerby?goo.gl/ZkYfGi
Man City and Man United draw 0-0
Manchester United held on for a 0-0 draw with Manchester City despite Marouane Fellanini being sent off for headbutting Sergio Aguero in the English Premier League this morning.
Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The draw keeps the race for Champions League qualification wide open.
Fellaini might have been about to receive a second booking anyway for fouling Aguero when he went head to head with City's striker and aimed a butt in the 83rd minute, earning a straight red card.
City sent on fit-again striker Gabriel Jesus in an attempt to score a late goal and the striker had a stoppage-time headed goal disallowed for offside in a tense finish at Etihad Stadium.
City captain Vincent Kompany refused to criticise his Belgium team-mate Fellaini, despite being on the opposing side at the Etihad.
"I don't get involved," the defender said. "He's my teammate ultimately and whether he's red or blue I support him in every way. I don't want to get involved."
Kompany did, however, praise United's strike force and highlighted the pace of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial particularly.
"They are lightening quick and with a bit more experience they are going to cause a lot more trouble," Kompany added.
But United manager Jose Mourinho's defensive tactics suffocated another heavyweight rival - it resembled an attack vs defence exercise in the second half - but whether a goalless draw does the team any good is open to question.
It left Mourinho's team in fifth place, both a place and a point behind City with five games remaining in the race for a top-four finish to qualify for the Champions League. Liverpool are a point ahead of City and have played a game more than both Manchester clubs.
United have the more difficult run-in, with trips to come to Tottenham and Arsenal, and are still involved in the Europa League.
By becoming only the second team to stop City from scoring at home this season, United extended their unbeaten run in the league to 24 games dating to a loss at Chelsea in October.
Manchester City 0-0 Manchester United: five talking points from the Etihad
The derby proved a fine night for the Manchester sides in the race for the Champions League, but it is also abundantly clear where both teams need to reinforce before next season
1) Race for fourth remains in hands of protagonists
This draw suits Manchester City and Manchester United as it moved them a point closer to Liverpool and will allow each to overtake JĆ¼rgen Klopp’s side in the race for a Champions League berth if they win their game in hand. JosĆ© Mourinho had said: “Our mentality now is to try to forget what is waiting for us and concentrate on this game. I don’t deny the Europa League is our main target but we have to forget about it.” This was a reference to the fact that winning the second tier European club competition gives access to the Champions League. It may also have been cute managerial speak as United emerged with their Premier League unbeaten run stretched to 24 matches and carrying the look of a side moving in the right direction. In what has become a trying debut season in English football Pep Guardiola should also be relieved his team did not lose.
2) Requirements for next season are confirmed
Whatever the outcome of the race for Champions League places both sides should already have a firm idea on what is required to compete at the very top of the Premier League. For City, surgery is needed at the back. A Claudio Bravo flap that pushed the ball into Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s path when he had a defender behind was the kind of moment that has cost Guardiola’s side this season. As well as resolving the goalkeeper position the manager desperately needs two quick full-backs, because Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov offered little going forward. For United, Marouane Fellaini proved he is no playmaking midfielder by failing to release Marcus Rashford, who was screaming for the ball. With the peerless Michael Carrick 36 in July, Mourinho has to strengthen in this department.
3) United’s No19 dazzles again
After using Ander Herrera to snuff out Eden Hazard in the defeat of Chelsea, the derby’s tactical eyebrow-raiser from JosĆ© Mourinho was the positioning of Henrikh Mkhitaryan as a centre-forward. Given Marcus Rashford’s presence on the right the question was whether the manager would switch the two and so it proved; the theory seemed to be this might confuse City. Of a visiting attack that also featured Anthony Martial, Guardiola said: “They are so fast in front, they are going to attack right in behind. They are a tough team.” Inside two minutes Rashford broke the contest open with a sprint along the right. Later an audacious back-heel around-the-corner made a mug of NicolĆ”s Otamendi, the unfortunate City defender who often found himself tasked with dealing with the lively 19-year-old. Rashford scored the winner here in March last year and this was another standout display from a player brimming with potential.
4) Kompany’s future remains in the balance
It was the first time the City captain had started a third consecutive game since March of last season and just as in his previous outings the 31-year-old impressed. The issue, though, is not how well Vincent Kompany can play until the end of this season but whether Pep Guardiola can rely on him being regularly available next term. Even if the Belgian suffers no more problems between now and the start of the 2017-18 campaign his unfortunate track record of injury means it may be difficult for the manager to make Kompany integral to his plans. One princely sliding tackle that dispossessed Anthony Martial when at full tilt showed precisely what the central defender is about, and his presence alone gives confidence to a City rearguard that is the team’s achilles heel. Kompany has two years left on his contract and despite his accomplished return, Guardiola is no closer than last summer to knowing whether the player should see those out.
5) Latest instalment proves the derby still delivers
This edition of a fixture that stretches back to the 1890s was an open affair despite JosĆ© Mourinho’s view before kick-off: “I expect them to have a lot of possession, because that’s the way they normally play but we also want the ball because that’s also how we normally play,” he said. “But I think they’re going to have more of the ball.” Yet City did not hog the ball as predicted and there was little of the early season pinball wizardry from Guardiola’s side. This was like two well-matched fighters going toe-to-toe landing jabs and haymakers and having to soak up the same in return. The vibrant nature of the game may not have pleased managers who reach for total control but it did make for refreshing viewing.
WORLD: Slovakia Cup - finished
| StandingsWORLD: Slovakia Cup | ||||||||
| 06:00 | Finished | Belarus U18 | 0 - 3 | Hungary U18 | (0 - 1) | |||
| 06:00 | Finished | Czech Republic U18 | 1 - 4 | Russia U18 | (0 - 2) | |||
| 06:00 | Finished | Turkey U18 | 1 - 2 | Ireland U18 | (1 - 0) | |||
| 06:00 | Finished | USA U18 | 1 - 1 | Slovakia U18 | (0 - 0) | |||
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